The paper cited “chatter” in Wall St. banking circles that the team may be on the auction block.

Though Hal and brother Hank Steinbrenner grew up watching the franchise cop seven World Series titles under the family’s reign, both are said to have cooled on the team.

Hal Steinbrenner denied the story.

“It is pure fiction,” he said. “The Yankees are not for sale. I expect that the Yankees will be in my family for many years to come.”

Even with an eye-popping $220 million payroll, the team’s massive broadcast clout and vast fan base make it one of the world’s richest sports franchises.

And the Daily News cites several anonymous “insiders” who say there is interest in selling.

“It would definitely be the right time for the family to sell,” said one baseball source familiar with matters involving the league’s owners.

“The value of the team couldn’t be higher, but at the same time, it’s an older team in a division with younger teams getting better at the same time a lot of the Yankees’ core veterans are starting to go into decline.”

Another source told the paper there was no reason for the brothers, along with sisters Jessica and Jennifer, to hold onto the team, other than the prestige of owning an unqualified sports icon.

“Hal hates the players,” the source said, “and he hates the media.”

Following the decline of his father’s health in the years before his death in July, 2010, Hal Steinbrenner had been reluctant to take over as the Yankees’ head man, the paper said.

It was only in November of 2008, after his brother approved the Alex Rodriguez’s massive contract that Hal agreed to become managing general partner.

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